Combination table and carrying case



Nov. 2, 1954 E. L. FLElscH COMBINATION TABLE AND CARRYING CASE Filed March 2, 1953 l y2,693,258 COMBINATION TABLE AND CARRYING CASE Edward L. Fleisch, Mineola, N. Y.

Application March 2, 1953, Serial No. 339,653 4 yClaims. (C1. 19o-11) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding tables and combination folding tables and carrying cases. Itv more particularly relates to a device for use out of doors, without chairs, which forms a table in its extended state adapted to maintain a level surface when mounted upon soft terrain and which will fold into a convenient and useful carrying case when not in use as a table.

The invention comprises a tablev top member divided into a plurality of pivotally connected sections adapted to fold with respect to each other to form an enclosed compartment. A plurality of supporting members are pivotally attached to the top sections. The supporting members are so constructed as to resist their being unequally imbedded when the table is mounted upon soft terrain and are adapted to fold Within the said compartment. One or more of the supporting members protrudes through said compartment to form a handle.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a table which is designed and adapted to maintain a level table surface when supported upon soft terram.

Another principal object of the present invention resides in providing a table that is adapted to be folded into a convenient and useful carrying case.

A further object resides in providing a table adapted to fold into a carrying case wherein the supporting members of said table fold within said carrying case.

A further object resides in providing a combination folding table and carrying case wherein one or more of the supporting members of said table provide a handle for said carrying case.

lt is a still further object to provide a table for use at beach outings, picnics and the like which provides a useable table surface at a convenient height to persons seated upon the surface that supports the table.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a combination folding table and carrying case for use at beach outings, picnics and the like wherein the supporting members of said table are provided with sections of increased cross sectional area at their extremities to prevent said supporting members from becoming unequally imbedded in the terrain and wherein one or more of the supporting members protrude through the carrying case formed when the table is folded and provide a handle for the carrying case.

With the foregoing and still further objects in View, this invention includes the novel elements and combinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention in the folded state for use as a carrying case.

Figure 2 is an end sectional view of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the same embodiment of the invention in a semi-folded state.

Figure 4 is a view of the embodiment in its fully extended state for use as a table.

Figures 1 and 2 show the cooperation of the various parts of the invention forming a carrying case.

The table top is divided into three parts 10, 11 and 12. Table top part forms the bottom or base of the carrying case. One edge of table top 11 is pivotally connected to an edge of equal length of table top part 10 by a pair of hinges 13. Similarly, one edge of table top part 12 is pivotally connected to the opposite edge of table top part 10 by a pair of hinges 14. Table top parts 11 and 12 are adapted to fold towards each other about vUnited States Patent 2,693,258 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 table top part 10 and thus form three sides of a carrying case. f

Edge members 15 and 16 are angularly attached Kto the remaining edges of table top parts 11 and 12 respectively and have cutouts therein 17 and 1S and 19 and 20 respectively. Legs 21 and 22 are pivotally connected to the under and inner surface of table top part-10 by hinges 23 and 24.

Locking devices (not shown) may be added to hold said legs 21 and 22 in fixed relationship with table top part 1l) in the extended or table state to prevent buckling.

Legs 21 and 22 may be eliminted without changing the invention and a supporting member (not shown) may also be substituted for said legs 21 and 22. Said supportingmember (not shown) may also be substituted for said legs 21 and 22. Said supporting member may be pivotally attached to the under and inner surface oftable top part 10 in a manner to be adjusted adjacent table top parts, 10, 11 and 12 when the device is extended for use as a table and adjacent only table top part 10 when the device is folded.

Legs 25 and 26 are ICC pivotally connectedto the under andy inner surface of table top part 11 by hinges 27 and 2,8.

The otherwise free extremities of said legs 25 and 26 are connected by a bar member 29 having a cut out portion therein 3i). Locking devices (not shown) may be added to hold said legs in a fixed relationship with table top part 11 in the extended or table state to prevent buckling.

Similarly located and connected on the under and inner surface of table top part 12 are legs 31 and 32, hinges 33 and 34, bar member 35 with cut out portion 36.

Figure 3 is a View of the interior of the carrying case showing its usefulness in carrying usual picnic items therein. Shown is rack 3'7 for cups 38, rack 39 for utensils 40 and brackets 41 for plates 42.

Figure 4 is a view of the device in its extended state for use as a table. Table top parts 10, 11 and 12 are located in the same plane and provide a table surface. Legs 21, 22, 25, 26, 31 and 32 are perpendicular to said surface to provide support therefor.

T he design of the invention may be such as to provide legs that are shorter than on a conventional table and of a length to maintain the table surface at a convenient height for persons seated upon the same surface as that which supports the table. ln the embodiment shown the length of legs 21 and 22 is greater than the length of legs 25, 26, 31 and 32 which are of equal length, by an amount equal to the thickness of bar members 29 and 35.

When in use as a table, the bar members 29 and 35 rest upon the terrain over a large area and offers resistance to settling or sinking of the legs of the table in the terrain.

The conversion from table t carrying case is accomplished by folding the pivotally mounted parts into their proper locations for forming the carrying case. Legs 21 and 22 are folded adjacent table top part 10. Legs 25 and 26 are folded into the cut outs 17 and 18 in edge member 15. Legs 31 and 32 are similarly folded into cutouts 19 and 20 of edge member 16. Table top parts 11 and 12 are then pushed towards each other until edge members 15 and 16 abut each other and the case is closed. In this position bar members 29 and 35 are adjacent each other and form a handle for said carrying case, and cutouts 30 and 36 form a convenient gripping surface on said handle.

From the above it is seen that the present invention provides a combination folding table and carrying case for use at beach outings and the like. The supporting members of said table are provided with increased crosssectional areas to prevent the supporting members from becoming unequally imbedded in the terrain. In addition, the supporting members protrude through the carrying case and provide a handle when the case is folded.

v l claim:

l. A combination folding table and carrying case comprising a center table top section, a first end table top section pivotally connected to said center table top section, a second end table top section pivotally connected to said center table top section, a first edge member attached to the free edges of said first end table top section, said first edge member having cut out portions therein, a second edge member attached to the free edges of said terrain. This results in contact with the' second end table top section, said second edge member having cut out portions therein, said first and second end table top sections being adapted to fold downwardly toward each otherabout said center .table .top section and bring the free edges of said iirst and second edge members in abutting relationship with ,each other, a rst combination Aleg and handle member pivotally attached to the under .surface of said first end 'table top section, Said vkfirst combination leg and handle member 'being adapted to fold substantially adjacent the -under surface of said first end table top section with a portion 'thereof extending beyond said iirst edge member through said Acut out portions, and a second combination leg and handle member pivotally attached :to `the under surface of said second` end table .top section, said second combination leg and handle member being adapted to fold substantially adjacent the under surface of said second end tabletop section with a Vpor-tion thereof extending beyond saidsecond edge member through said cut out portions.

,2. Apparatus as in .claim 1 lwherein va plurality of `leg `members are pivotally attached to `the under surface of said .center table top section, said legymem'bers being adapted lto fold adjacent rthe under surface of said center 4table top section Within the confines ofthe edges of said center table top section.

13.. A .combination folding table and carrying case comprising a table top member divided into a plurality of pivotally connected parts, `a plurality of edge members attached to the free edges of said table top parts, said edge members having cut out portions therein, said table top parts being adapted to `told with respect to each other to bring said edge members into abutting relationship, and handle means comprising a plurality of leg members pivotally connected to said table top parts, said leg members being adapted to fold substantially adjacent said table top parts extending through said cut outs to provide handle means.

4. A combination folding table and carrying means comprising a plurality of .at members pivotally connected together, a plurality of edge members connected to the outermost of .said flat members, said edge members having cutouts, and handle means `comprising a plurality of leg members pivotally connected to the side of said at members from which said edge members project, said leg members being adapted to fold and extend through said cutouts in said edge members to provide handle means.

References Cited Iin the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number Name Date 564,711 OBrien 111131,28, 1896 1,154,692 Dehullu Sept. 28, 1915 2,301,630 Krienitz Nov. l0, 1942 2,609,072 Levinson Sept. 2, 1952 

